Foot-operated bass-drum and cymbal beater.



J. A. MEYER.

FOOT OPERATED BASS DRUM AND GYMBAL BEATER.

APPLICATION rum APB.10,1911' Patented Feb.6,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET L J. A. MEYER.

FOOT OPERATED BASS DRUM AND GYMBAL HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1911.

1,016,510, Patented Feb. 6, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

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" screw-12. 0n the bass-drum,

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JULIUSA. MEYEBQOF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

roor-ornaaran sass-Baum AND oYnBAI. nEArna.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. e, 1912.

Application filed April 10, 1911. Serial 'No. 620,167.

To all whom it mag/concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUs-A. Mam, a citizen of the United States, and resident of St; Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot-Operated Bass-Drum and Cymbal Beaters, of which the following is a specification containing a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to. the accompanying; drawings, forming a part hereof. I

My invention relates to an improved foot operated bass-drum and cymbal beater, and consists in the novel construction and combination of elements hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved bass-drum and cymbal beater,-

, which shall be capableof being knockeddown or folded and carried in the operators pocket, and yet possess s'uificient weight to be amply durable and efficient.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side-elevation of my improved device, applied to a unnecessary parts of the latter being broken away. Fig.2 is a rear-elevation of the device. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional plan-view of the cymbal striker, illustrating its reversible'clamp whereby it is reversibly and adjustably carried by the drum-beater rod. Fig. 4 is a front-elevation of my inven-' tion, applied to a bass-drum and cymbal, portions of the latter and the drum being broken away. Fig. 5 is a detail plan-view of my improved hoop-clamp applied to a cymbal-holder. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view of the cymbal-holder loop-clam The numeral 1 indicates the trea le-base preferably made in the form of a light casting, to the outer end of which the heel of the treadle 2 is pivotally connected at 3.-

Fixed upon the upper surface of the base hoop-clamp 4 is an integral one-piece beaterpost 5 having a vertical slot 6 in its lower portion, and provided with a bifurcated upper end 7. Rotatively-mounted in the biurcationof the upper end of said post, and held therein by the pivot-pin 8, is the beaterrod arm 9. Detachably-located in a seat 10 in the outer free portion of said beater-rod arm 9 is the lower end of the beater-rod 11, the same being secured by a common thumbunderside of said arm 9, at or near the outer free end ofsame, is a perforated lug l3. Projecting from the toe of the treadle 2 is a treadle-arm 14, which projects centrally of said treadle through and beyond the vertical slot 6 ofthe said beater-post 5; and the free end of said arm connected to said perforated-lug 13 of said arm 9, while the lower end of said connecting-rod is detachably-mounted in said notch 15. of said treadle-arm 14; thereby connecting said treadle-arm to said beater-arm 9.

Two bow-springs l7 and 18 have their lower arms fixed 1n apertures 19 formed in a rearwardly-projectmg lug 20 near the upper end of said post 5, while the upper arms of said springs engage the underslde of said beaterarm 9, to' normally hold the parts in the position in which they are shownin full lines in Figs. 1 and 4. The base hoop-clamp 4.- is detachably connected to the treadle-base 1,

by means of common thumb-screws 21 which engage the overlapping inner edge of said base and the underlying portion of said hoop-clamp 4. The rear, or inner, edge of said base hoop-clam is constructed in the following mannel: ntegral clamping-arms 22 project upon the upper surface of said part 4, and extend inwardly or far enough to form a hoop-space between them and the underlying surface of the said hoop-clamp, the drum will be located in said hoop-space. Common thumb-screws 24 are threaded through said arms 22, so that their inner free ends will bear upon a movable clamping-jaw 25 and force the same into contact with the said drum hoop. Said movable clamping-jaw 25 is preferably made of a strip of spring-metal, so that when pressedinto contact with the drum-hoop by the action of said thumb-screws 24, the said jaw will yield and conform itself to the curved surface of said hoop, and thereb greatly onlarge the contact-surface and i hrm'a more efiicient clamping-jaw. (See Figs. 2 and 6). The ends of the send conformable-j aw 25 are bent into L-shape, so that they will engage the outer sides and upper surface of the clamping-arms 22 in a rather loose manner, to permit the jaw to bend in conforming itself to the curve of said drum-hoop, and yet loosely secure itself to the said arms'for purrearwardly so that in use the hoop 23 of poses of support when the jaw is not in use.

The beater-rod 11 is provided with the ball 26 at its free end, and intermediate of the said ball and the inner end of said rod the measure. brought about by vertically slotting the post through an aperture in said striker, and is then threaded into the bracket so that the inner end of said screw engages the said beater-rod 11, and adjustably secures said bracket on said rod.

What I consider a ver important portion of my invention is the balance of the several moving parts so that side-strains and lateral friction will be obviated in a reat Primarily, this balance is 5, so that the treadle-arm 14 passes centrally through the slot 6 of said post; and then 20 bifurcation at the upper end of said post in .vertical' alinement with. the said treadlearm. Finally, thebeater-rod 11, the cym-- mounting the beater-carrying arm 9 1n the bal-striker bracket 27, and the ball 26, are all centrally mounted with respect to the said post-that is, the weight of all said parts is supported axially by the said post, and there is practically no side draft or lateral friction, with the result that the different moving parts never wabble or rattle during operation.

Attention is directed now to Fig. 5 of the drawing, where I have shown my improved hoop-clamp applied to the cymbal-holder 31, the cymbal 32 being secured to said holder by the thumb-screw 33 in the usual manner, while the outer end of said holder is pro.- vided with the previously-described hoopclamp clamping-arms 22, thumb-screws 24, and movable and conformable jaw 25. The operation is as follows: In case the parts were previously arranged in knockdown form for carrying in the pocket, they should of course be assembled again, as shown, by manipulating the various thumb-screws 21, 24:, 30 and 12, and by locatin the lbwer end of the treadle connectingro 16 in the notch 15 of the treaolle-arm it. With the parts assembled in the position inwhich they are shown in Fig. 1, as well as in Fig.4, it will be apparent that the operator only need press upon the treadle 2 with his footto make the necessary contact of the'ball 26 with the drum-head, and simultaneously of the cymbal-striker-29 with the cymbal 32 of Fig. 4. All movements are very quick and positive.

In case the operator finds the two springs 17 and 18 too strong, he may readily remove one of said springs.

What I claim is: I

" 1. The improved drum and cymbal beater, comprising a single post having an integral one-piece body provided with a slot beneath said body and a fork above said body, a base to which the lower end of said post is attached, a 'treadle having which projects through the slot in said post, a beater-rod arm 9 ,mounted in the said fork at the upper end of said post, a heaterrod projecting from said arm, a beater ball carried by said beater-rod, a lug 20 projecting from said post beneath said beater-rod arm, a spring interposed between said lugand said beater-rod arm, and means for connecting saidtreadle arm to said beater-rod arm. a

2. A drum or cymbalbeating device adapted to be detachably clamped to a drum-hoop, and comprising a suitable body having clam ing-arms whichoverhang a portion of said body to form a hoop-receiving space, a spring-jaw of flexible material located within said hoop-receiving space in contact with said clamping-arms and adapted to conform itself to the curvature of the drumhoop, fastenin means for permanently but loosely attaching said spring-jaw to said clamping arms, and suitable screws for forcing said spring-jaw into contact with the drumshoop.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JULIUS A. MEYER.

Witnesses:

JonN C. HIGDON, E. L. WALLACE.

an arm I 

